Thermal ablation of margins for recurrence prevention after endoscopic mucosal resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of large colorectal lesions can be challenging, and residual lesions after EMR can progress to colorectal cancer. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adding thermal ablation of margins [using argon plasma coagulation (APC) or snare tip soft coagulation (STSC)] in reducing recurrence rates after EMR.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase.

Amikacin therapeutic drug monitoring: Evaluation of therapy performance and analytical techniques in a developing country setting.

Introduction: Healthcare systems face several challenges, with microbial infections being one of the main concerns. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a strategy that has been encouraged to optimize antimicrobial regimens, particularly those with significant toxicity and narrow therapeutic indices, such as amikacin (AMK). We aimed to evaluate AMK concentrations of patients in a non-routine TDM setting and compare the performance of immunoassay and chromatography methods for routine clinical use.

Fezolinetant and Elinzanetant Therapy for Menopausal Women Experiencing Vasomotor Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant and elinzanetant for vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched until August 22, 2024. Because the Cochrane Library included all the identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs), it was unnecessary to search ClinicalTrials.

Cationic/Anionic Poly(p-Phenylene Oxide) Membranes: Preparation and Electrodialysis Performance for Nickel Recovery from Industrial Effluents.

Electrodialysis (ED) has already been applied to recover nickel in galvanizing processes, allowing nickel recovery and the production of a treated effluent with demineralized water quality. However, the growth in ED use is still limited by the production and commercialization of ion-selective membranes, currently limited to a few large companies. Therefore, this paper presents the development of homogeneous cationic and anionic membranes made from poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) for ED use.

Fully covered self-expandable metal stents versus multiple plastic stents for the treatment of post-orthotopic liver transplant anastomotic biliary strictures: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background And Aims: The most common adverse event (AE) of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is anastomotic biliary stricture (ABS). Management varies widely between centers, and it is not clear whether a combination of endoscopic dilation of the stenosis followed by multiple plastic stents (MPS) or placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (fcSEMS) is better for the management of post-OLT ABS. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of fcSEMS versus MPS in the treatment of post-OLT ABS.

The Influence of Blood Titanium Levels on DNA Damage in Brazilian Workers Occupationally Exposed to Different Chemical Agents.

Occupational exposure to pollutants may cause health-damaging effects in humans. Genotoxicity assays can be used to detect the toxic effects of pollutants. In the present study, we evaluated genetic damage in three populations occupationally exposed to benzene, pyrenes, and agrochemicals and assessed the possible influence of titanium (Ti) co-exposure.

Endoscopic Submucosal Tunneling Techniques versus Flexible Endoscopic Septotomy for Zenker's Diverticulum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Aims: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is the most common type of esophageal diverticulum. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to compare the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic submucosal tunneling techniques (ESTT) and flexible endoscopic septotomy (FES) for treating patients with ZD, including subgroup analyses by follow-up duration (<12 months and ≥12 months), diverticulum size (<2.5cm and ≥2.

Safety and efficacy of moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe versus high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), affects approximately 18.6 million individuals worldwide and poses a significant healthcare related challenge. Despite the established efficacy of both high-intensity statin monotherapy (HIS) and moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe (MIS+EZT) in ASCVD management, the optimal treatment strategy remains unclear.

Relationship between blood pressure variability and blood pressure phenotypes: a home blood pressure monitoring study.

Objective: Home blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) and BP phenotypes such as white-coat hypertension (WCH), white-coat uncontrolled hypertension (WUCH), masked hypertension (MH) and masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) are predictors of adverse cardiovascular events. This study compared home BPV across BP phenotypes built from abnormal office BP (OBP) and home BP monitoring (HBPM) thresholds defined by three distinct societies [European Society of Hypertension (ESH): OBP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and HBPM ≥ 135/85 mmHg; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA): OBP and HBPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg and Brazilian Society of Cardiology (BSC): OBP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and HBPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg].

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 51 194 treated (37% men, age = 61 ± 15 years) and 56 100 untreated (41% men, age = 54 ± 16 years) individuals from 1045 Brazilian centers who underwent OBP and HBPM measurements.

Antiviral Potential of (L.) Hitchc. Plant Extracts Against and Viruses.

Chikungunya and Mayaro fevers are viral infectious diseases characterized by fever and arthralgia, for which there are currently no effective vaccines or treatments. The urgent need for novel antiviral agents against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) has led to interest in plant-based compounds that can disrupt the viral replication cycle. (L.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular disease risk with degarelix and GnRH agonists in prostate cancer.

Background: Degarelix is a third-generation GnRH receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of prostate cancer, however, the decision to use a GnRH agonist or an antagonist depends on several factors. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing the cardiovascular disease risk between degarelix and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in patients with all stages of prostate cancer.

Methods: Databases were searched for randomized control trials (RCTs) and observational studies that compared the risk of cardiovascular disease between degarelix and GnRH agonists in patients with prostate cancer.

Relationship between white-coat hypertension and office isolated systolic or diastolic hypertension: an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study.

This study investigated the prevalence of white-coat hypertension (WCH) among individuals with office isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). We evaluated 9122 individuals [57.0 ± 14.

2024 Latin American Society of Hypertension guidelines on the management of arterial hypertension and related comorbidities in Latin America.

Hypertension is responsible for more than two million deaths due to cardiovascular disease annually in Latin America (LATAM), of which one million occurs before 70 years of age. Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, affecting between 20 and 40% of LATAM adults. Since the publication of the 2017 LASH hypertension guidelines, reports from different LATAM countries have confirmed the burden of hypertension on cardiovascular disease events and mortality in the region.

Perceptions of primary health care professionals from Brazil about the food and nutrition monitoring system.

The main factors related to the lack of coverage in Health Information Systems are concentrated in the scarce and incipient training of health professionals regarding the collection and typing of data, as well as the importance of using information. The aim of this study was to analyze the perceptions of primary health care professionals from Brazil about the functioning of the Food and Nutritional Monitoring System (SISVAN). Multicentric qualitative study, carried out with 38 health professionals in Basic Health Units (BHU) in five regions around the country.

Association between ovarian tumors and exposure to assisted reproductive technologies and ovarian stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction:  The question of whether assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and ovulation induction are related to a higher incidence of ovarian tumors (OTs) is still controversial in the literature.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for case-control and cohort studies that investigated ART and ovulation induction exposure as risk factors for OT in infertile women. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were employed for all endpoints.

Prevalence of masked and white-coat hypertension among individuals with diabetes: insights from web-based home blood pressure monitoring in the Brazilian population.

The association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and masked hypertension (MH) in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring is established, but its relationship with home BP monitoring (HBPM) remains uncertain. This web-based database study compared BP phenotypes in individuals using (n = 51,194; 6.05% with DM) and not using (n = 55,320; 0.

Efficacy and Safety of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Analogues for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogues may benefit patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of FGF21 analogues versus placebo for treating patients with MASH in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.

GC-NPD analysis of topiramate in capillary dried plasma: assessing chemical dependency pharmacotherapy.

This study aimed to develop and validate a GC-NPD method for quantifying topiramate (TPM) in capillary dried plasma spots (DPS). Extraction involved three 6 mm DPS with albumin 0.1%, alkaline liquid extraction with tert-Butyl methyl ether and TMAH methylation.

Antidepressant effect of PT-31, an α₂-adrenoceptor agonist, on lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior in mice.

Increasing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors play a key role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). In addition, the attenuation of inflammatory response has been considered a putative mechanism for MDD treatment. PT-31 is an imidazolidine derivative and a putative α₂-adrenoceptor agonist that has previously demonstrated antinociceptive activity.

Liraglutide for the Treatment of Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: The efficacy of liraglutide for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity is well established, but their role in the treatment of weight regain after bariatric surgery remains unclear.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases in January 2024. A random-effects model was employed to compute mean differences (MD) and events per 100 observations with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous and binary endpoints.

Gantenerumab for early Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Gantenerumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid β protein (Aβ) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). The authors sought to evaluate gantenerumab safety and efficacy in early AD patients.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched until 2 December 2023.